Pilot Testing a Brief Partner-Inclusive Hybrid Intervention for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

The necessity of hybrid and more accessible options for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) has taken on increased urgency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its lasting impacts. In the New Family Wellness Project (NFWP), participants engage in a hybrid in-person and teletherapy six-session intervention for new parents early in their postpartum period. This small, phase 1 clinical research examined early outcomes of the NFWP's cognitive behavioral intervention on adverse mental health outcomes (i.e., perinatal depression and anxiety, overall mental illness symptoms) and adaptive outcomes and protective factors (i.e., relational health, social support, flourishing, self-efficacy). Despite a small sample size (N = 12), paired t-tests yielded significant effects for improvements in mental health symptoms at posttest, as well as marginally significant improvements in postpartum anxiety and self-efficacy. Findings suggest the brief, partner-inclusive, hybrid intervention shows promise for further study. Lessons learned from this small phase 1 clinical study and recommendations for revising the intervention prior to future trials are discussed.

Automated summary

The necessity of hybrid and more accessible options for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) has become more urgent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found that a hybrid intervention combining in-person and teletherapy had positive effects on early outcomes for new parents, including improvements in mental health symptoms and potential improvements in postpartum anxiety and self-efficacy.